Revolver latch mechanism



June 11, 1968 D MGCLENAHAN 3,387,399

REVOLVER LATCH MECHANI SM Filed April 25. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR pawns J M: (lawn/mu ATTORNEYS June 11, 1963 I D. s. MCCLENAHAN 3,387,399

REVOLVER LATCH MECHANI SM Filed April 25. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTOR P006095 J Me [km/mm ZQ ZJ/ /M ATTORN EYS United States Patent 3,387,399 REVGLVER LATCH MECHANISM Douglas S. McClenahau, 980 Mill Hill Road, Southport, Conn. 9940 Filed Apr. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 544,917 4 Claims. (Cl. 42-62) ABSTRAtIT GF THE DISCLOSURE A revolver having a frame with integral side walls, one of the side walls having an aperture for receiving a cylinder release latch, the side walls receiving the butt therebetween and the release latch having an adjustable pin.

This invention relates to firearms and more particularly to the type termed a revolver.

In revolvers, the cylinder for receiving the cartridges can be rotated in dilferent manners. One example is by means of a pawl and ratchet, the pawl being moved when the trigger is pulled to engage a detent or place upon the side or rear face of the cylinder. Then, as a cartridge chamber is brought into alignment with the bore in the barrel, it is locked in such a position while the cartridge is being fired. In order to load the revolver, in the type known as a swing-out cylinder, the cylinder is pivoted on a separate member which is mortised into the frame in such .a manner that by releasing the axis pin in the cylinder, commonly called the ejector rod, the cylinder is free to be swung outwardly. This will expose all of the chambers to be loaded or unloaded at one time.

In the prior art, a thumb-actuated release member has been provided on the left or one side of the revolver frame behind the cylinder. Pressing this with the thumb of the right hand in one manner or another releases the cylinder so that it may be swung out to the side for loading or unloading. Prior revolvers use a frame construction, which can be termed a side plate construction, where one side of the frame is not integral with the frame but is removably attached with screws. By unscrewing the retaining screws, a side of the frame may be pulled away from the frame to expose the internal mechanism and permit assembly. Such also enables machining of the internal ways for a sliding member of some sort which is free to slide fore and aft, or forward and rearward, to release the axis pin of the revolver cylinder so that it may be swung out. Some of the less expensive guns employ a means which is pulled forward manually to unlock the cylinder. It is difficult to design a rearly operable latch at the rear part of the gun. Some police departments require that a gun has to be able to be loaded and unloaded single-handed without the use of the knees. This cannot be done unless there is a rear-opening latch.

A solid frame with integral side pieces will provide a stifier construction. The problem is with such a structure that it is difficult to assemble.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a revolver which has a latch arrangement which can be operated manually, single-handed, with the thumb of the shooting hand.

Another of the objects of the invention is to provide an arrangement which can be assembled externally and the proper adjustments made without the use of a removable side plate construction.

In one aspect of the invention, the revolver is provided with a frame having side walls that are integral extending rearwardly. The space between the side walls is arranged to receive the butt assembly. The cylinder is pivoted on the frame so that it can be swung outwardly as is known in the art. The axis pin extends rearwardly and is slidable so that when it is moved forward, the cylinder can be swung outwardly. One of the side walls has an aperture ice therein for receiving a cylinder releasing means which is operable to slide the axis pin forwardly when it is desired to unlatch the cylinder.

Because of the integral side wall construction, it is difficult to assemble and adjust the parts. The releasing means is insertable through the aperture and then an adjustable threaded member is insertable therein, the threaded member being adjusted so that it properly contacts the axis pin. The releasable member also can be shaped so as to block movement of the parts as will be explained in detail hereafter.

The releasable means can be provided with a friction device and suitable cover plates in conjunction with a detent.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view;

FIG. 3 is a view partially in section along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view with the parts partially in section and with the hammer in partially cocked position; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the hammer forward in firing position and the trigger pulled prior to firing.

Referring to FIG. 1, frame 10 has a cylinder 11 which is rotatably mounted on a crane 12 as is known in the art. The cylinder 11 has the usual cartridge receiving chambers therein and cylinder stop notches 13 around the periphery thereof. The frame 10 has a barrel 14 fitted therein and the usual grips 15. The butt 16 is integral with the trigger guard 17. Frame 19 has side walls 18, 18 (FIGS. 2, 3) integral therewith. As can be seen, butt 16 slides in between the side walls 18, 18 when the gun is in assembled relation.

As is known in the art, ejector rod assembly 19 is slidably mounted in the crane 12 and is urged rearwardly therein by a conventional spring means (not shown). The assembly 19 has a conventional ejector arrangement, not shown, which seats in the rear of the cylinder. The axis pin or ejector rod 21 is slida'ble relative to the ejector. When it is in its rear position, it will enter aperture 22 in the frame 1%) and serve as a look so that the cylinder cannot be rotated from its battery position or position where a chamber is aligned with the barrel.

In order to swing the cylinder outwardly or into position where it can be rotated, it is necessary to move the axis pin 21 forwardly or to the left (FIG. 3). In order to do this, a cylinder latch assembly 23 is provided. The cylinder latch assembly may comprise a thumb piece or cylinder latch 24 having corrugations 25 therein to facilitate actuation thereof. An oval projection 26 extends from latch 24 through slot or hole 27 in the left side wall 18 of the frame.

Cylinder latch release pin or screw 28 is screw threadedly engaged in aperture 29 in oval projection 26. The screw 28 may have a plastic locking ring 30 inserted in aperture 29. Ring 30 may be a plastic or resilient material such as nylon or polytetrafiuoroethylene.

Slot 31 is cut in the end of the latch piece 24, said slot being elongated and having a rear wall 32. Cover plate 33 is arranged so as to fit over the elongated slot 31. Cover 33 has an aperture 34 for receiving a screw 35. The cylinder latch retaining screw 35 is threaded into hole or aperture 36 of the left side Wall 18. Detent washer 37 is located between the inner face of the latch 24 and the side of the frame.

When the revolver is to be assembled, projection 26 of latch 24- is fed into slot 27. Spring washer or friction member 37 is first placed between the latch mechanism 24 before projection 26 is inserted through slot 27. The cover plate 33 is then slipped into place and retaining screw 35 threaded serially through aperture 34 and cover plate 33, the slot 31 in the latch, through the aperture of the washer 37 and into threaded aperture 36 in the side frame. Thereafter, the cylinder latch release screw 28 is inserted into the projection 26 from the forward side of the axis pin through hole 22.

The release screw 28 is then adjusted relative to the axis of pin 21 and the forward face 38 of the breech so that when the latch is moved forward, pin 21 is moved sufiiciently forward so that the revolver cylinder can be readily moved outwardly for loading. It is necessary, in order for proper action and ease of operation, that the forward face of the release screw 28 be precisely aligned with the forward face 33 when the latch 24 is in its full for ward position. The release screw could be an adjustable P11].

The projection 26 is oval or similarly shaped so that it also can function in cooperation with hand 40 to block movement thereof when the trigger is pulled. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, when latch projection 26 is in its rearward position, it will be to the rear of the hand or pawl 40. Thus, when trigger 41 is pulled about its pin 42, the hand 40 rises and its forward edge 43 will engage a ratchet tooth in the rear face of the ejector cylinder assembly. If the latch projection 26 has been moved to its forward position in order to unlock the cylinder, it will then take the position at the forward edge of the slot 27 as seen in FIG. 5, and it will block the upward travel of the hand or hammer and thus prevent the trigger from being pulled.

It should be apparent that variations can be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a revolver, the combination including a frame having integral side walls projecting from the rear thereof,

and having an axis pin receiving aperture therein, one of said side walls having an aperture therethrough, a cylinder rotatably mounted on an axis pin, means swingably supporting said axis pin in said frame, means urging said pin rearwardly into said axis pin receiving aperture for locking said cylinder in operative position, cylinder releasing means including a body and a projection extending therefrom through said aperture in one of said walls, said revolver having a cylinder turning means cooperating with said projection arranged so that said cylinder turning means is blocked by said projection when said cylinder releasing means is moved forwardly, a threaded release pin adjustably mounted on said projection and aligned with said axis pin receiving aperture, and means holding said cylinder releasing means on said side wall, said releasing means being reciprocable relative thereto, forward movement of said releasing means moving said release pin to move said axis pin forwardly, so as to release said cylinder so that said cylinder can be swung outwardly.

2. In a revolver according to claim 1 wherein the projection means is oval shaped.

3. A revolver according to claim 1 wherein said means holding said cylinder releasing means on said side wall includes an elongated slot, a screw passing through said slot and threadedly fastened to said side wall, and a cover means surrounding said slot.

4. A revolver according to claim 3 wherein there is a spring means surrounding said screw.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 520,666 5/1894 Blachon et al 42--7 688,141 .l2/1901 Wesson 4262 1,291,688 5/1919 Rosebush 42-7 X 3,177,602 4/1965 Geber 42-62 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. W. KUJAWA, Assistant Examiner. 

